People keeping an eye on fat
You want to keep eating crisps, so you compare the fat content per 100 g. Having less fat than another variety doesn’t automatically mean a product meets the requirements for a ‘low fat’ claim.
Who is this choice for?
People with strict allergen requirements
You may need to avoid wheat, milk, soya or sulphites, for example. In that case, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variety, including any warnings on the current packaging.
People comparing the full nutrition label
As well as fat, you check saturated fat, energy and salt per 100 g. Then you use the per-portion nutrition information to assess the amount you plan to eat.
What should you look for when buying?
Start with what matters most to you: a lower fat content or avoiding a specific allergen. Then compare the other nutritional values on the same basis, per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Compare total and saturated fat per 100 g. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, solid foods can only be described as ‘low fat’ if they contain no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. | If I want to keep eating crisps while watching my fat intake, I want to compare the amounts rather than rely on ‘oven baked’. Fat reduction is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, listed allergens and any warnings on the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen. | If you need to avoid wheat or milk, you’ll want to know whether this particular flavour suits your requirements. Avoiding specific allergens takes priority over other crisp characteristics for around 30% of consumers. |
| Energy, salt and portion size | Compare energy and salt per 100 g; only then use the per-portion information to assess how much you eat. | If I’m watching energy and salt as well as fat, I want to understand what my portion adds to my intake. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and dietary information | Check the ingredients and specific claims, such as gluten-free or vegan, on the packaging you’ve chosen. Also check the fat content per 100 g. | If I’m choosing a plant-based or gluten-free option, I want to know what’s in the crisps without assuming that a short ingredients list means less fat. For around 10% of consumers, the ingredients are the main factor in their choice. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘less fat’ as ‘low fat’
Albert Heijn lists 13 g of fat per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel and 30 g for Lay's Naturel. The oven-baked variety therefore contains less fat than the plain variety it’s compared with, but it exceeds the limit of 3 g per 100 g for a ‘low fat’ claim under EU Regulation 1924/2006.
Compare the actual amount of fat per 100 g, and bear in mind the difference between a comparison and a nutrition claim.
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Assuming a brand or flavour is allergen-free
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Pringles Original contains wheat and may contain milk and soya. Jumbo lists milk and sulphites for Smiths Sticks Paprika. Other varieties may contain different ingredients.
If you need to avoid an allergen, check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging of the exact variety before buying.
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Looking only at fat or energy
Less fat doesn’t automatically tell you about energy or salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing nutritional values per 100 g, as portion sizes can vary between products.
As well as fat, compare energy, carbohydrates and salt per 100 g; then consider how much you want to eat.
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Relying on online information instead of the packaging
If you have strict dietary requirements, the information on the packet you buy is what matters: ingredients and warnings can differ between varieties or recipes.
Use a product page to compare options, then check the current label before buying.
Brands to compare
Lay's
The plain and oven-baked varieties make it easy to compare fat and energy within this brand.
- Albert Heijn lists 13 g of fat and 428 kcal per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel, compared with 30 g of fat and 517 kcal per 100 g for Lay's Naturel.
- At 13 g of fat per 100 g, the oven-baked variety doesn’t meet the limit for a ‘low fat’ claim. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety separately.
Pringles
Pringles Original shows why you should check the ingredients for the specific variety of formed potato snack.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists dehydrated potatoes, oil, maize flour and wheat flour among its ingredients.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists wheat as an allergen, says it may contain milk and soya, and gives its fat content as 30 g per 100 g.
Smiths
With Smiths Sticks Paprika, both the flavour and the allergen information are relevant to your choice.
- Jumbo lists 24 g of fat and 1,3 g of salt per 100 g for this variety, allowing you to compare these values with those of other crisps.
- Jumbo lists milk and sulphites as allergens for Smiths Sticks Paprika.
Albert Heijn
AH Chips naturel is a supermarket own-brand variety with clearly stated dietary information and a short ingredients list.
- Albert Heijn describes this specific variety as vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free, and lists potato, sunflower oil and salt as ingredients.
- These characteristics don’t tell you anything about the fat content by themselves. To check that, compare the nutritional values per 100 g on the current packaging.
Lidl (Snack Day)
Snack Day Naturelchips is a 250 g plain variety listed by Lidl as a store product.
- The product name and pack size help you identify the right variety in store.
- To compare fat content or check for allergens, look at the nutritional values, ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
Oven-baked crisps on Joybuy
These two oven-baked crisp varieties are worth considering if you want to compare the fat content of crisps. If you need to avoid a specific allergen, always check the current packaging; the product type alone won’t tell you whether it’s suitable.
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Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt 125 g
For anyone looking for oven-baked crisps with a sea salt flavour and wanting to compare the nutritional values per 100 g. The pack contains 125 g; if you need to avoid an allergen, also check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging.
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Lay's Oven Baked Natural 150 g
For anyone looking for an oven-baked plain variety and wanting to compare fat and other nutritional values. The pack contains 150 g; if you need to avoid an allergen, check the ingredients and any warnings on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are crisps with less fat also low fat?
No, not automatically. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the ‘low fat’ nutrition claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 13 g of fat per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel, compared with 30 g for Lay's Naturel.
Are light crisps automatically a better choice for my dietary goal?
No: first consider which difference matters to you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that light crisps may contain less fat but more carbohydrates than regular crisps. So compare energy and salt per 100 g too, rather than relying on the word ‘light’ alone.
Can I rely on ‘free from’ or plain crisps if I have an allergy?
Only if the current packaging for the specific variety confirms it’s suitable for the allergen you need to avoid. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods. Check any warnings too: according to Albert Heijn, Pringles Original contains wheat and may contain milk and soya.
Should I compare crisps per portion or per 100 g?
Compare crisps per 100 g first, so products in different pack sizes are measured on the same basis. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that portion sizes can vary; use the per-portion information afterwards to assess how much you actually eat.